Citizens learn the wonders of bats

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By Daily News Staff

Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

By Daily News Staff

Posted Sep. 5, 2013 at 11:10 AM

By Daily News Staff

Posted Sep. 5, 2013 at 11:10 AM

MONTAGUE – Recently, 39 enthusiastic forest visitors spent an evening learning about the bats of the Klamath National Forest during a field trip that was co-sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shasta Area Grotto.

At the entrance to Barnum Cave off of Highway A-12, presentations on bat adaptations and local monitoring efforts were given by Ray Miller, Liz Wolff, Mellen Colberg and Sam Cuenca.

The evening ended with an interpretive-led journey through Barnum Cave which is gated to human entrance because it serves as an important hibernating area for Townsend’s big-eared bats during the winter months.

The Klamath mountains are home to 17 species of bats, each of which have a very specific life history.

“Bats serve a highly important role in the local ecosystem,” asserted Cuenca in a press release. “Our species are all insectivorous and using echolocation, they help to balance insect populations in our area.”

He went on to explain that these animals have complex roosting strategies and can be found in large trees of the forest, caves and mines, and even in human-created structures like bridges and old buildings.

Some bat species are migratory but many overwinter in caves that provide conditions which can be suitable for hibernating (called a hibernaculum). Bats are highly sensitive to human disturbance and should be left alone, stated Cuenca.

The presentation included recent evidence of the spread of White-nose Syndrome – a concern to bat researchers. This disease is having detrimental effects on bat populations in the eastern United States but has not been detected in western states.